Xplorers Visit North Branch Library in Memphis
June 17, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
SOUTHAVEN, Miss.âMemphis Xplorers linebacker/fullback Ron Simone spent time Tuesday with children involved in the Summer Reading Club at Memphis' North Branch Library, reading and talking about football and the team's upcoming games. The Xplorers next home game against the Tennessee Valley Vipers will be July 5th. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at the DeSoto Civic Center. For tickets call (662) 280-3737 or go online at www.xplorersaf2.com and use the Ticketmaster link.
When Simone walked into a room full of 25 children from Boys and Girls Clubs of Memphis at North Branch Library in Memphis, it looked like a tough crowd: silent, stone faces everywhere. But after a few minutes with Simone, the kids were beaming sunshine and smiles.
Simone started out by asking the kids if any of them had played football and which positions they would like to play. Then he read a book about the various positions, pausing after each position to ask the children questions.
"As a receiver, you have to be fast," Simone said. "Who's fast in here? How fast are you?" he asked, pointing to one child. "Real fast? Okay, you and I are going to race in the parking lot when we get done here." The children laughed.
The wide receiver section also featured a large full-color picture of the San Francisco 49ers' Jerry Rice. Simone pointed him out to the children.
"Have you ever met Rice before?" asked one boy.
"Yeah, I met him a couple of times when I was at NFL combines," Simone said. A whisper of amazement rolled around the room.
After he was through reading the football book, Simone pulled out a story book. He informed the children that he would need help reading the book, and that he wanted each of them to come up and read a page. Simone, 23, had already been introduced: a Brooklyn, New York native, graduate of Rutgers University, with a bachelor's degree in pre-law.
"You guys already know me, but I don't know you," Simone said. "So you have to say your name and tell how old you are."
After the first two volunteers read, almost every hand in the room shot up in the air for a chance to read out loud. Finding a willing helper to try on the Xplorers pads and uniform wasn't difficult either, and asking the children to exhibit one or two "touchdown dances" was easy. Simone finished the afternoon by donating the football book to the library and signing autographs, while Xplorers community relations director Michael Rice passed out Xplorers memorabilia.
Rice said giving children the opportunity to read aloud does more than help develop their reading comprehension skills.
"Encouraging the kids to read out loud and receiving a positive reaction from their peers builds their self-esteem," Rice said.
Simone said after the appearance that he believes every time a child interfaces with books and reading, it should be a positive experience.
"My favorite part was listening to the children read," he said. "They were really good readers, and they were really excited about doing it. I remember when I used to go to things like that as a kid, listening to someone else read gets pretty boring. When you get the kids involved, it's hard for them to forget about it.'
Remaining dates for the Xplorers Celebrity Reading Program:
Germantown Branch â Tuesday, June 24, 2 p.m.
1925 Exeter Rd.
Germantown, TN 38138
Gaston Park Branch â Monday, June 30, 2 p.m.
1040 S. Third St.
Memphis, TN 38106
Randolph Branch â Monday, July 7, 3 p.m.
3752 Given Ave.
Memphis, TN 38122
Levi Branch â Tuesday, July 22, 2 p.m.
Poplar View Parkway
Collierville, TN 38017
Burch Branch â Wednesday, July 23
501 Poplar View Parkway
Collierville, TN 38107
XPLORERS AT THE MEMPHIS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
· The Xplorers will attend Memphis Children's Museum's alternative sports day on Thursday, June 18, at 11:30 a.m.
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